Improved fike-escape



TERTULLUS S. DIBLlN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Letters Patent Ivo. 68,491, flared i'eptmnlwr 3, 1867.

IMPROVED FIRE-ESCAPE.

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TO ALL WHOM I'l MAY UONCERN:

'Be it lknown that l, TER'IULLUS S. Drums, of tho city, coni|ty,`:indStute of New York, have invented a new and improved Fire-Escape, andthat the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, hereinafter referred te, foi-ins u full und exactspecification of the same, wherein I have set forth the nature andprinciples of my said im[.-roveni ents, by which inyinvention may bedistinguished from all others of a similar class, together with suchparts as I claim, and desire to havesecured to me by Letters Patent.

This invention relates to a new and improved fire-escape of that classin which aflexible ladder yis employed.

- 'lhe invention consists in a new and improved manner of constructing ailexible ladder for the purpose, and in a peculiar manner ofsecuring thewindlass to the windo\\sill, whereby the windlass, with the ladder woundupon it, muy be adjusted and irinly secured in an open window veryexpeditiously whenever the device isrequircd for use, the ilexibleladder being unwound from the windlasrs, so that the occupants of abuilding Vmay descend from the open window tothe ground or pavement. Inthe accompanying sheet of drawings- Figure 1 is an end view of myinvention applied to a window-sill, the window being in section.

Figure 2, a front view of the same.

Figure 3, an enlargedsceton of the ilexible ladder.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

A represents the window of a building,'and B the'sill thereof, of usualform and construction. C is a windlass-frame, composed of two sidepieces', a a, of cast iron-that, at lcust,`would be the preferablematerialsaid side pieces being connected by cross-rods The windlass iscomposed of a' shaft or drum, c, having a wheel, d, upon it near eachend, both wheels being within the side pieces a a, as shown in fig. 2.The front lower ends of the side pieces are each provided with a spur,c, and theback lower ends are provided with lips or bearings, f,projecting horizontally towards the front side, as shown clearly `infig. l, the back lower ends extending down suiciently far below the'lips or bearings to admit of screws, g, passing through them, onethrough each, said screws being provided with girnlct points to passinto the wood below the nosing 7i at the inner side of the sill B, thespurs Vc penetrating the upper surface of the sill, (see fig. 1.) Bythis means the windlass-frame is firmly secured in the window on thesill. D represents a flexible ladder, the sides z' z' of which arecomposed of ropes, and the rounds are of wood, notched or hollowed outat their ends to receive the ropes, the' rounds being fastened to theropes by cords, jf, passing through them and around the ropes, thelatter being protected from wear and abrasion by means of chang-leatherk, (sce more particularly iig. 3.)

This ladder thus constructed will be extremely strong and durable, andstill be flexible, so that it may be kreadily wound upon and unwoundfrom the shaft or drum c of the windlass, to which it may be attached inany proper manner.

When it is necessary to use the device, the snshes of the mostconvenient window in the burning building are` removed, or, Vin largewindows, a suicient space may be afforded by raising the lower sash. Thewindlassframe is then secured to the sill B, theexible ladder lowered,and persons can descend without difficulty. The windlass is operated byturning the wheels d, which serve in lieu of cranks, and also serve asguides for the flexible ladder when wound upon the shaft or drum c.

Having thus. described my invention, I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- The combination ofthe {ire-escape, composed ofthe frame with its cross-rods, spurs, screws, and windlass, and ropeladder, the whole arranged substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

The above specifica-tion of my invention signed by me this 8th day ofMarch, 1867.

TERTULLUS S. DIBLIN.

` Witnesses:

WM. F. McNAMAnA, ALEX. F. ROBERTS. i

